Historical Home Restoration

Historical Home Restoration

Rojas AP was engaged by the Lewis Latimer House Museum to manage interior repairs while preserving the historic integrity of the landmarked structure. The project involved identifying repair areas, specifying materials, and coordinating efforts to meet ADA requirements and align with upcoming exhibition schedules. Special care was taken to protect the home’s historic elements and artifacts throughout the process.

Rojas AP coordinated the contractor selection process, organizing a pre-bid walkthrough with qualified contractors, reviewing proposals, and leveling bids to ensure alignment with project goals and preservation standards.

During construction, Rojas AP provided oversight, conducted regular site visits, and verified that all work adhered to the project’s specifications and historic preservation guidelines. The team also managed communications between the museum and contractor, addressed any issues that arose, and completed final inspections to ensure project completion to the museum’s satisfaction.

LOCATION
QUEENS, NY

PANYNJ JFK Airport Redevelopment Master Plan

PANYNJ JFK Airport Redevelopment Master Plan

Rojas AP provided architectural and planning services as part of the Mott MacDonald team supporting PANYNJ on the JFK AirTrain program. The firm’s work included two primary tasks: accessibility and code review for the station feasibility study and master plan, and related parking and site circulation planning. As project needs evolved, Rojas AP provided responsive, well-prepared technical support, helping the team refine concepts, resolve issues, and keep work moving efficiently. For the station feasibility and master planning effort, Rojas AP evaluated accessibility, passenger circulation, Universal Design, and code and life-safety considerations across multiple stations. The work included conceptual recommendations for accessible paths of travel, vertical circulation, wayfinding, tactile and audible passenger information, and station-to-terminal connections, including new and relocated elevators and escalators, Areas of Refuge, and accessible passenger amenities. For the parking and site circulation task, Rojas AP assessed the feasibility of a consolidated rental car facility and developed revised parking layouts in response to station impacts and existing operational deficiencies. The team remained flexible as concepts developed, providing coordinated planning support and anticipating issues for subsequent design phases.

LOCATION
QUEENS, NY

Grand Concourse Facade Repairs

Grand Concourse Facade Repairs

Rojas AP was hired to prepare and file drawings with the Department of Buildings for the repair of Unsafe and SWARMP (Safe with a Repair Maintenance Program) conditions reported on the Cycle 8 FISP Report of an 8-story high commercial building. Repairs entailed brick repointing, brick replacement, corner replacement, and crack repair. The construction administration lead by the Rojas AP team provided close-up inspections at all suspended scaffold locations. While on-site, the team verified changes to the repair scope required by the conditions of the facade. Rojas AP was responsible for reviewing, requesting changes, and approving all AIA payment applications from the contractor. A Post Approval Amendment was required to show changes to the approved repair scope of work quantities, including additional work and credited amount from originals.

LOCATION
BRONX, NY

Long Island City Facade Repair

Long Island City Facade repair

Rojas AP was hired to perform FISP (Facade Inspection Safety Program, formerly Local Law 11) inspections and prepare facade repair drawings with the Department of Buildings and perform construction administration for a 12-story residential building in Long Island City, addressing unsafe conditions.

The inspections were conducted using binoculars, pipe scaffolding and suspended scaffolding in full compliance with FISP. Based on findings from the Cycle 9 FISP report, a comprehensive Facade Repair Scope was developed. A significant challenge faced was the poor condition of the terracotta parapet, which was leaning in several locations. Further inspection of the terracotta revealed deterioration of the backup metal. To address this issue and mitigate potential risks to pedestrians and the building, Rojas AP opted to replace the terracotta parapet with a brick parapet. This solution offered a more durable and cost-effective solution, saving the project money while ensuring long-term stability. The new brick parapet was integrated into the building’s design while maintaining a consistent appearance with the existing structure.

Throughout the project, Rojas AP provided construction administration services, including regular site visits to monitor progress and ensure compliance with design and safety standards. Upon project completion, Rojas AP amended the original FISP report and filed an updated SAFE report, confirming that the building’s facade was in good condition, fully compliant with FISP requirements, and posed no risk to the public.

LOCATION
QUEENS, NY

Programming Workshop

Programming Workshop

In the summer of 2022 Rojas AP taught a group from Tools & Tiaras Inc., a Jamaica based not for profit group during their summer camp. Rojas AP developed a STEM activity for school aged children from 6 - 14. The activity was designed to teach the basics of zoning restrictions and architectural planning to the participants. The process was developed with relatively inexpensive materials of colored popsicle sticks assembled into cubes with glue guns. The students began the activity with selecting a development scenario. In this case the girls chose to develop a new school in the neighborhood. Then they were presented with a map that indicated existing vacant or underused sites in the neighborhood, as well as the current zoning regulations. They selected a development site with a conforming zone. Once their site was selected they used a large scale map and colored cubes to identify the different program element that would need to be incorporated into a new school. The blocks were then stacked to develop massing models of the program. Ideas of stacking utilities, circulation, and adjacency were taught in this part of the exercise.

LOCATION
QUEENS, NY

Column Workshop

Column Workshop

For Woman’s History Month 2023, Rojas AP worked with a group of young students from Tools & Tiaras Inc., a Jamaica-based not-for-profit group, at our local museum, King Manor Museum. Rojas AP worked together with Tools & Tiaras to develop the architectural background for the column activity. The activity was designed to teach the basics of a column and the different parts in order for the children to use what they learned to build their very own column. The process was developed with precut materials and a simple instruction manual. The children began the activity with a short mini-lesson on what a column is. With their newly acquired information, the children were able to use their instruction manual to start building their columns. Then they work semi-independently with the support of the staff to finish building their column. To personalize their column, the children were able to paint, color, and even add glitter to solidify the design of the project. In this joint effort, the children were able to understand the structure of a column with a hands-on approach and became a part of the design process.

LOCATION
QUEENS, NY

Cannabis Dispensary Space

Cannabis Dispensary Space

As part of the effort to open a cannabis dispensary, Rojas AP was contacted to provide schematic design services that balanced regulatory compliance with a welcoming customer experience. The goal was to obtain a new Certificate of Occupancy and reclassify the existing building for retail use under NYC zoning.

In addition to meeting the requirements set by the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), Rojas AP was tasked with designing a layout that included secure storage, product display areas, ADA-compliant access, and a clear customer flow. The client also wanted branding reflected in the exterior signage, which had to comply with OCM’s design guidelines.

To support the filing process, Rojas AP coordinated with surveyors to document existing conditions and prepared zoning analyses, egress plans, and parking layouts. Renderings were developed to visualize a clean, professional atmosphere that prioritized functionality, safety, and design cohesion. The schematic design aimed to set the foundation for a dispensary that meets regulatory standards while offering a smooth and engaging retail experience.

LOCATION
QUEENS, NY

Fifth Avenue 1st Floor Renovation

Fifth Avenue 1st Floor Renovation

Rojas AP worked with the property owner to renovate the 1st floor of this six-story apartment building located in the Upper East Side. The proposed scope entailed adding an exercise room for the tenants and converting six of the existing office spaces into residential units, ranging from a studio to a two bedroom apartment.

The work also included installing new vestibule doors, new lighting, flooring, and wall panels in the common hallway area, all done in coordination with interior design firm C McKEOUGH Unltd. Rojas AP filed with the Department of Building an Alteration Type 1 application to change the use and dwelling unit count. Approvals from the Landmarks Preservation Commission were also obtained. In addition to coordinating with the interior designer, Rojas AP worked closely with the mechanical and structural engineers for coordination.

LOCATION
UPPER EAST SIDE, NY